Crusader

[mugge]

I spotted this gentleman in the middle of a busy intersection. The picture on the wall of the building is gay and exiting as Melbourne is in the grip of footy finals. Australian football that is.

[Shadowman]

Very graphic capture, nicely done.

[James G]

Hi Ole, I don't think this really works for me. I find myself hunting around the image to see all the other things apart from the demonstrator. For example I'm intrigued by what seems to be a sailor near the visitor centre . Also the curious glass building kind of catches my eye.

I'd be inclined to crop much tighter around the gentleman who feels so strongly that he is prepared to stand where he does. I'd be looking to shift focus to him with the crowd in front of him presented more positively as his audience.

One other thought springs to mind. Conversion to B&W could enhance the drama of the image. I suspect his placards would become rather striking.

[chauncey]

I see someone like that...I have this need to ask "how". That's when they start to stutter.

[mugge]

James, I do not think he has an audience, that is that. The sailor does not care. The gentleman, to my mind, is quite
isolated.
Cheers Ole

[IzzieK]

James, I do not think he has an audience, that is that. The sailor does not care. The gentleman, to my mind, is quite
isolated.
Cheers Ole

I agree Ole, but if you take the advice of James, you will find that you have a stronger image with a message that the man is holding up about whether it is for that particular audience or not...it will look like as if he is playing for that audience if you crop it closer. The poster on the building would have been a different shot altogether, if you know what James means or assumes he meant...

[James G]

My advice was based on how I was responding to the image. For me I would want to provide a stronger focus on the main protagonist in the image i.e. the man demonstrating.

[mugge]

Izzie and James, I have taken your advice. The Crusader is now more central. The crowd to the right is still indifferent. It is a different picture though.

http://s8.tinypic.com/2ryijrc_th.jpg

[Manfred M]

I did an edit to link the the image, but unfortunately the new image is rather small.

Sorry, this image, while an improvement over the previous edit is still not working for me.

The subject has not been isolated from the background and the overall image is still too busy; a shallow DoF might have worked here, but even then, the background might still be too distracting. The second part that isn't working for me is the shot from the rear. These can sometimes work, but usually they don't. A shot showing the subject's face is usually the way to go.

[James G]

Ole, I did a quick edit to illustrate how tight a crop I think is needed combined with a B&W conversion.


The image was very small but you can see that in B&W the 'Crusader' is emphasized more, along with the message. I think his isolation from any audience is still there to be seen as well. I'd also argue that the traffic sign now helps create a 'closed in' view of the image. (a no-left turn might have been better, but you can't have everything with a street scene.

I don't normally work other people's images so if you want me to take this image down, please say so.

[mugge]

Izzie, Manfred and James. Your edits made my picture a stronger one.
Cheers Ole

[DEAN01]

Ole, I like the original shot. The fact he is in front of the visitor's center and is being ignored is an important aspect of the photograph--IMHO.